11–12Physics 11–12 Syllabus (2025)

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Implementation from 2027

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Year 11

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Fundamentals of mechanics

PY-11-01
analyses motion and events using scientific laws and models

Related Life Skills content for Stage 6

Forces and motion

Fundamentals of mechanics

Relevant Working scientifically outcomes and content must be integrated with each focus area. All the Working scientifically outcomes and content must be addressed by the end of Year 12.

Quantities of motion

Classify distance, displacement, time, speed, velocity and acceleration as either scalar or vector quantities
Use vector diagrams to represent the displacement, velocity and acceleration of an object
Add and subtract vectors in 2 dimensions
Resolve vectors into components
Solve total distance and displacement problems
Explain how instantaneous speed, average speed, instantaneous velocity and average velocity are measured and calculated
Solve problems using ${\vec{v}}_{av} = \frac{Δ \vec{s}}{Δ t}$
Solve problems involving the calculation of velocity in 2 dimensions
Solve problems to determine speed, velocity, distance, displacement and time
Solve problems in one and 2 dimensions using $\vec{a} = \frac{Δ \vec{v}}{Δ t}$

Motion relationships

Use data to construct displacement–time graphs, velocity–time graphs and acceleration–time graphs
Use data to analyse motion graphs to describe the displacement, velocity and acceleration of an object
Analyse motion graphs to determine the relationships between displacement, initial velocity, final velocity, acceleration and time
Solve problems involving uniformly accelerated motion in one dimension using $\vec{s} = \vec{u} t + \frac{1}{2} \vec{a} t^{2}$ , $\vec{v} = \vec{u} + \vec{a} t$ and ${\vec{v}}^{2} = {\vec{u}}^{2} + 2 \vec{a} \vec{s}$
Conduct a laboratory experiment to compare 2 methods of graphically determining a value for acceleration due to gravity and assess the accuracy and reliability of the experimental results
Analyse problems of relative velocity involving motion in two dimensions using ${\vec{v}}_{AB} = {\vec{v}}_{A} - {\vec{v}}_{B}$

Forces and motion

Resolve vectors into perpendicular components using $F_{x} = F \cos θ$ and $F_{y} = F \sin θ$ where $θ$ is the angle with the $x$ -axis
Use free-body diagrams and vector analysis to determine the net force acting on an object
Apply Newton’s first law of motion to stationary objects and objects moving with a constant velocity
Analyse the forces acting on an object moving with constant velocity
Conduct a scientific investigation to illustrate the relationship between force, mass and acceleration
Analyse the forces acting on an accelerating object
Solve problems involving Newton’s second law of motion using ${\vec{F}}_{net} = m \vec{a}$
Use examples to describe the effects of Newton’s third law of motion
Analyse the forces acting on connected bodies in physical contact and linked by ropes using vector diagrams and Newton’s laws of motion
Compare static and kinetic friction
Solve problems using $f_{friction} = μ F_{N}$
Solve a variety of problems in static and dynamic real-world situations by applying Newton’s laws of motion

Motion on inclined planes

Determine the normal force on objects on inclined planes
Construct free-body diagrams to show the gravitational, normal, frictional and net force acting on an object on an inclined plane
Resolve the weight force into perpendicular and parallel components on inclined planes using $F_{⊥} = mg \cos θ$ and $F_{∥} = mg \sin θ$
Derive $a = g \sin θ - ug \cos θ$ to describe the acceleration on an object on an inclined plane with friction using Newton’s second law parallel to the plane
Solve problems involving objects with constant velocity and objects accelerating on inclined planes
Explain why Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples used inclined planes to move heavy objects
Conduct a laboratory experiment to analyse the relationship between the angle of an inclined plane and the acceleration of an object

Momentum and energy

Compare conservative forces and non-conservative forces
State the conditions under which total mechanical energy is conserved
Relate the work done on an object to the change in its kinetic energy during accelerated rectilinear motion using $W = F_{∥} s = Fs \cos θ$
Solve problems involving changes in gravitational potential energy in a uniform gravitational field using $Δ U = mg Δ h$
Solve problems involving kinetic energy using $KE = \frac{1}{2} m v^{2}$
Apply the law of conservation of mechanical energy and use $W = Δ KE = \frac{1}{2} m v^{2}$ and $W = Δ U$ to solve problems
Analyse energy transformations and calculate the work done when an object moves within a uniform gravitational field, including changes in gravitational potential energy due to height and identifying the forces responsible for doing work
State the conditions under which momentum is conserved
Explain why momentum is conserved during collisions
Classify collisions as elastic or inelastic by calculating and comparing the total kinetic energy before and after the collision
Solve problems involving momentum using $\vec{p} = m \vec{v}$ and $Δ \vec{p} = {\vec{F}}_{net} Δ t$
Solve problems involving the conservation of momentum using $\sum {m \vec{v}}_{before} = \sum {m \vec{v}}_{after}$ and, where appropriate, conservation of kinetic energy
Solve problems involving the conservation of momentum in elastic collisions using $\sum \frac{1}{2} m v_{before}^{2} = \sum \frac{1}{2} m v_{after}^{2}$
Conduct a practical investigation to analyse the conservation of momentum in collisions

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Year 12

Life Skills

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11–12Physics 11–12 Syllabus (2025)

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